Copyright @ 2017 Australia and New Zealand Journal of European Studies http://www.eusanz.org/ANZJES/index.html Vol9 (1) ISSN 1837-2147 (Print) ISSN 1836-1803 (On-line) Perparim Xhaferi University of Sydney
[email protected] The Post-Ottoman Era: A Fresh Start for Bilateral Relations between Albania and Turkey? Abstract This paper will explore bilateral relations between Turkey and Albania during the post-Ottoman period. The aim of the paper is to explore reasons for the revival and establishment of relations since the creation of both nation states at the beginning of the twentieth century. In the 21st century, Turkish foreign policy shifts in the Balkans, along with the rise of the Turkish economy and military capability are in line with Albanian needs politically and economically. More importantly, the Turkey’s repeated assurances to protect the Albanian people has been paramount for Albanians who live in the five surrounding states, that is Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Introduction This paper will explore bilateral relations between Turkey and Albania since the creation of the Albanian state in 1912. I examine the economic, security and geopolitical context of Albanian/Turkish interactions since the end of the Cold War. While Albanian foreign policies since the creation of the Albanian state until WWII1, communist era 2 , and the post cold war period 3 have been scrutinised by various 1 O. Pearson, Albania in the Twentieth Century: A History, Volume I: Albania and King Zog: Independence, Republic and Monarchy, 1908-1939, The Centre for Albanian Studies in Association with I. B. Tauris, London, 2004; Albania in the Twentieth Century: A History, Volume II: Albania in Occupation and War: From Fascism to Communism, 1940-1945, The Centre for Albanian Studies in Association with I.